This is really a "game" (so to speak) being played on the "game board" of Israel and Hamas, with Hamas being the central "played piece" -- by these two big Muslim blocks described here.
Behind the lines: Hamas desperately seeking relevance [Israel]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3185239/posts
http://www.jpost.com/Features/Front-Lines/Behind-the-lines-Desperately-seeking-relevance-368838
Hamas is not an isolated player. It is part of a Muslim Brotherhood regional alliance bankrolled by the Emirate of Qatar.
The last year has not been good for this alliance. In 2011-12, they were riding high. They had come to power in Egypt and in Tunisia and seemed fairly placed to triumph in Syria too. Hamas elected to back what looked like an emergent Muslim Brotherhood power bloc and drew away from its alliance with Iran.
Not much is left of all that. Egypt and Tunisia are gone. In Syria, only the regime, Islamic State and the Kurds remain as serious players. The Muslim Brotherhoods moment in the sun was exceedingly brief.
This left their Palestinian iteration, Hamas, looking somewhat beached in 2014. The Iranian funding declined.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi decimated the tunnel system through which the rulers of Gaza brought in goods and money. Fuel shortages and power outages became part of daily life. There was no money to pay state employees.
The Hamas decision to relaunch its military campaign, its refusal to accept Israels offer of calm for calm, and its rejection of an Egyptian cease-fire proposal that Israel accepted represent an attempt to bring about a reset in the position of Hamas and its backers in the region.
Hamas has been looking for allies, so far in vain [Israel]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3184802/posts
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.607178
While Islamic Jihad remains an Iranian protégé, Hamas decided two and a half years ago to break with Iran and return to its natural Arab and Sunni home. This decision was sparked by the Iranian-backed Syrian governments slaughter of its largely Sunni citizens, which generated pressure to sever ties from both fellow Palestinians and Arab states. But Hamas also thought this move wouldnt exact too high an economic price, thanks to the support it received from Egypts Muslim Brotherhood-led government.
That calculation collapsed when Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi was ousted last year; Egypts new government is waging war on the Brotherhood and all its branches, first and foremost Hamas. But Hamas can no longer return to Iran, Syria and Hezbollah. Qatar and Turkey remain its only refuge, and both are loathed by Egypt and the Gulf states.
In Gaza war, Egypt taking hard line over border [Israel and Hamas]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3184786/posts
http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-gaza-war-egypt-taking-hard-line-over-border/
Vilification of Hamas in Cairo has only increased since Operation Protective Edge erupted.
CAIRO (AP) In the Gaza war now in its third bloody week, Hamas battle isnt only with Israel, even though thats the country it is firing rockets at. The terrorist group that rules Gaza is demanding Egypt open its border with the tiny, blockaded strip of territory
Even as it presents itself as a mediator in the conflict, Egypt is taking a hard line, refusing any opening that would strengthen Hamas, a group it accuses of fueling militancy on its soil.
And so far, the Egyptian public has largely gone along.
But as civilian casualties rise in Gaza, Egypts government runs the risk that Egyptians will blame it for not making concessions that could stop the bloodshed.
Still, authorities in Cairo have insisted they wont bend. Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri called Rafah a red line, warning against pressuring Egypt on the issue.
Both Israel and Egypt have enforced a crippling, years-long blockade of Gaza. Israel also faces demands to open its crossings, which are vital to reviving the strips economy, but it is likely to resist doing so.
For its part, Egypt has made it clear it wont open the border unless the Gaza side is run by Hamas rival, President Mahmoud Abbas Palestinian Authority.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/as-it-battles-hamas-israel-singles-out-its-sponsor-qatar/
Gulf emirate is branded the villain behind Hamas belligerence, with PMs former security adviser saying it funds tunnel diggers and rocket launchers.
President Shimon Peres accused Qatar on Wednesday of becoming the worlds largest funder of terror due to its financial support for Hamas in Gaza.
Qatar does not have the right to send money for rockets and tunnels which are fired at innocent civilians, the outgoing statesman told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Jerusalem. Their funding of terror must stop. If they want to build then they should, but they must not be allowed to destroy.
Qatars recently attempted to transfer funds for the salaries of Hamas civil servants in Gaza, following the formation of a Palestinian unity government, but was blocked by the United States, which pressured the Arab Bank not to process them. But former national security adviser Maj. Gen. (res) Yaakov Amidror told The Times of Israel that the emirates funding for the organizations terror apparatus, including tunnel diggers and rocket launchers, has continued unabated.
Pictured: Obamas half-brother wearing Hamas scarf that boasts Jerusalem is oursWE ARE COMING
Obamas Brother Joins Hamas, Wears Scarf Saying Jerusalem Is Ours; We Are Coming
Barack Obamas Brother Malik Joins Hamas Terrorist Group
Obama appoints Hamas supporter who called Israelis Nazis to commission on religious freedom
CIA finds 1 in 5 flagged job applicants hail from Hamas, Hezbollah, al Qaeda
Al-Qaeda, Hamas operatives applied for CIA jobs, say new Snowden files
Obama Officials Met with Hamas, Discussed Removing it from Terror List
Summer Camp: Hamas Teaches Children to Kill and Kidnap Israelis
U.S. Muslim Brotherhood/Hamas Support Leader Chosen By Syrian Opposition
How the U.S. Aids Hamas Through the Palestinian Authority
Obama Approves Direct Funding For Hamas
Kerry, Obama, and the WEFs $4 Billion Bailout Plan for PLO/Hamas
VERY IMPORTANT.. Obamas Brother Funds Hamas (Proof Below)
Hamas 'happy' with Obama's $900 million pledge [2009 Flashback: Never Forget!!]
U.S. Selling $11B in Weaponry to Gulf State That Supports Hamas, Syrian Jihadists
Why would Hamas negotiate with John Kerry after getting $47 million from him?
Ninth Lesson From the Gaza War: Hamas Will Use Humanitarian Aid for Evil
Will Obama Snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory Over Hamas?
Obama to the rescue of Hamas
The Southern Poverty Law Center Stands Up for Hamas
State Dept: U.S. Supports Palestinian Unity Government (Hamas)
Report: US Holding Backroom Talks with Hamas For Months
U.S. held secret meeting with Hamas, Terrorist regime still won't recognize Israel's right to exist
Former FBI Agent Says Leading Muslim Group a Hamas Front (CAIR)
Why is Quatar arming these rebels? Did I see some reporter trying to ask Moon & Lurch why he would fly in on a plane from Quatar?
Why don’t they leave ph**k alone and let the Israelis do their job for once and for all....
Has anyone connected the upswing in mideast violence to Obama’s releasing those five bad-asses from Gitmo?
In every Israeli-muslim conflict I can recall the US and UN swoop in to save the muslims the minute it becomes clear that Israel will be able to finish off their muslim antagonists.
It happened in the Six Day war.
It happened in the Yom Kippur war.
And it happened in the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah war in Lebanon when Condi Rice made all sorts of promises to Israel to get them to cease fire before they totally destroyed Hezbollah.
Of course once the Israelis agreed to a cease fire, Condi forgot all about her promise to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding and re-arming.